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16.2.3 Benefits to the Wider Community

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  5. 16 Project Watershed Funding Policy »
  6. 16.2 Step 1 - Who benefits from the activity, what is the extent of that benefit and who contributes to the cost of the activity »
  7. 16.2.3 Benefits to the Wider Community

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Council considered benefits to the wider community in terms of the LGAA Section 122F(b). This requires it to consider any expenditure that is independent of the number of people who benefit, generates benefits that do not accrue to identifiable persons or groups of persons or generates benefits to the community generally.

While the LGAA sets out how costs are to be apportioned, the Rating Powers Act 1988 (RPA) is the empowering statute to collect rates. The RPA provides a specific mechanism for rating in the particular area of river or erosion protection, and therefore provides guidance for determining benefit.

Section 41 of the RPA states:

41 (2)

Where the rate is in respect of works for the protection of land from flood or erosion or for the conservation of soil or the management of water, a Board shall for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, give consideration to,-

  1. In relation to indirect benefit,-
    1. The establishment or preservation of economic units of land; and
    2. The protection or establishment of water, sewerage, drainage, electrical, gas, and other services and of works, services, and amenities to which rates from the land can be applied; and
    3. The protection or establishment of communications and of other property, service, or amenity within or benefiting the land.

Council considers that Project Watershed provides benefits to both the wider Regional community, extending beyond the local scheme area, and the local community within the vicinity of the scheme area. For the purposes of this Funding Policy the local community benefit is referred to as “indirect benefit”.